Population 13,205 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Columbia: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Columbia
Household size in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.76 | 2.66 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.57 | 2.67 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.56 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.52 | 2.57 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.24 | −0.09 | −0.03 |
Households in Columbia run a little small, averaging 2.52 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.76, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the southeast and smallest in the southwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.4 | 36.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.9 | 37.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.7 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.1 | 39.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.6 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Columbia is 42.1 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 37.4, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the south.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.9% | 15.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.7% | 15.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.5% | 14.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 16.0% | 14.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Columbia: 16.0% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Compared with other Mississippi cities, Columbia has a higher share of single-parent households than most.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Columbia
Renters in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.7% | 29.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.7% | 31.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.2% | 31.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.9% | 30.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a quarter of households in Columbia rent their homes (24.9%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 59.1% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the southwest; owners are most common in the southeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.3 points, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.4% | 13.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.1% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.6% | 16.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.2% | 14.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Columbia: 18.2% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 0.8 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1983 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1984 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +5 | +6 |
The typical home in Columbia was built around 1976, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are older than in Mississippi overall, where the median home dates to 1987. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the west has the oldest housing. Of the 108 Mississippi cities with 5,000+ people, only eight have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $540 | $703 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $565 | $758 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $660 | $819 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $760 | $1,018 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$220 | +$315 | +$606 |
Rent in Columbia runs $760 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $220 a month since 2006–10, up 41%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 23.1% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Of the 108 Mississippi cities with 5,000+ people, only nine have lower rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Columbia
Bachelor's degrees in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.5% | 20.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 21.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.8% | 22.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.8% | 25.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +5.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Columbia: 14.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Only ten of the 108 Mississippi cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.4% | 80.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 77.5% | 82.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 82.5% | 84.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 85.4% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.0 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Columbia never finished high school, more than nationally: 85.4% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 8.0 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 9.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.0% | 7.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 5.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | −3.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Columbia runs below the national rate: 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 4.6 points, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Columbia compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | 2.52 | 42.1 | 16.0% | 24.9% | 18.2% | 1976 | $760 | 14.8% | 85.4% | 3.9% |
| Expose | 2.71 | 44.7 | 4.0% | 23.9% | 20.3% | 1984 | $808 | 26.4% | 96.9% | 2.2% |
| Hub | 3.00 | 34.3 | 3.4% | 10.6% | 31.9% | 1981 | $624 | 5.8% | 87.9% | 2.0% |
| Foxworth | 2.78 | 38.8 | 17.1% | 21.8% | 20.7% | 1985 | $845 | 10.0% | 72.7% | 14.8% |
| Jamestown | 2.85 | 37.8 | 16.3% | 11.6% | 22.4% | 1984 | $1,110 | 7.5% | 69.2% | 19.4% |
| Improve | 2.29 | 41.3 | 3.0% | 27.2% | 12.6% | 1985 | $849 | 16.5% | 92.1% | 2.7% |
| Goss | 3.01 | 44.0 | 3.0% | 10.3% | 23.6% | 1984 | $806 | 30.1% | 100.0% | 0.7% |
| Pickwick | 2.54 | 42.2 | 19.4% | 35.8% | 19.6% | 1991 | $1,068 | 16.8% | 80.2% | 19.8% |
| White Bluff | 2.29 | 50.1 | 4.0% | 31.1% | 25.9% | 1991 | $621 | 16.2% | 97.3% | 0.1% |
| Pinebur | 2.72 | 40.5 | 13.6% | 9.9% | 22.4% | 1994 | $809 | 10.8% | 86.3% | 3.2% |
| Kokomo | 3.02 | 35.4 | 14.1% | 19.1% | 20.8% | 1982 | $788 | 11.7% | 79.5% | 11.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Fleetwood, PA · Crestwood, MO · Edgewater, MD · Shorewood, WI · Shingle Springs, CA · Farmington, NY · Farmville, VA · Shawano, WI · Sharonville, OH · Country Club, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Columbia. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.